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Category: Awareness

I very rarely do this, that is to project my beliefs on any duality topic.

It is not that I don’t care about my country or other people, I do, but I can do almost nothing about changing the world, I can only change myself – in other words to be the change I would like to see in the world …. I help when I can do things in a community or for a charity and other things that I support … but in my view social change and our evolution of our joint consciousness towards all of us working together will truly progress only when it comes from within. When we truly accept and love ourselves and subjugate the ego … only then will this love becomes as a light and a guide for all of us.

Others may think they can, and global public opinion has had its successes, when we work together – but we rarely do … for the division of humanity is why those in power are in power, as those use their power to manipulate the majority through fear / blame etc. (this strategy for control was detailed in a book called Propaganda by Edward Bernays in 1928 (Wikipedia article here), also an animated book review here on YouTube. His comment about the subject of the book is as follows.

The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”—Edward Bernays

To form a viable opinion, we do need information that has credibility … currently Fake news is destroying the credibility of all news services. From the biased sources on both sides of media from the ultra-right to the ultra-left they make up news that is designed to push buttons, in other words is designed to create a emotive response … stories are made up for their reaction, there is little of no part of them which is true. Or vital news concerning a topic is just excluded. These sort of mis-information is designed for the incrediblly divisive medium, call social media, whether that be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or …. these mediums have been polluted to the extent that it gives the participant (us) little in the way of independant news or alternatively they invest in obviously partisan news … polluting their news feed with the same. Those that invest in the stream further adds to the divisiveness of society … I did a post on this here.

I do not believe any country is evil. Yes, there are evil people who when they have the ego beliefs, the tools and circumstances can control and manipulate “normal” people to an evil end … mind you every experience, even evil ones bring a lesson of their own.

The thing that is to me is important is that Humanity never learns from history ot the principles derived from it (Hegel) , in a nut shell

George Santayana said … “Those who do not learn from history are condemed to repeat it”and from George Bernard Shaw “We learn from history that men never learn anything from history

Why is this, perhaps in those current circumstances, the protagonists who don’t learn from the past think or more likely do not think, that for them it will be different.

Though one can manipulate the herd that is humanity via these strategies, (fear / blame / Self-interest / Religion, xenophobia, the tribal mentality ++ etc., examples of such areas where fear and blame are used, are particularly useful, such as refugees, (currently from the middle east, but almost distant country would suffice) coloured people, Hispanics, religious and other minorities etc., and of course , manipulation and of course on larger scale, lies repeated often, in the case of the alleged weapons of Mass destruction in Iraq, put forward the case for war.

The past gives us lessons here from experts in manipulation

“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it” – Adolph Hitler

and

“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.” – Joseph Goebbels

It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State – Joseph Goebbels

Strangely no one has ever been held accountable for the hundred of thousands of deaths that came from the Iraq War and currently the active wars around the world in the Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Palestine … where innocents are dying.

Remember as Jung said, it is easier for us to judge than think. For me that is the real issue, we don’t think enough about the decisions and the spin that comes from Government …. OK Patriotism, love of country is one thing, jingoism that it is my country right or wrong is flawed and irresponsible, Nationalism is the most dangerous, it can start wars, it is excluding all outside of a nation – it is defined as exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups. For instance World War 2 was caused by nationalism and greed. Nazism’s almost epic nationalism appealed to downtrodden Germans still suffering the humiliation of being defeated in World War I. It has similarities to the recent world after the austerity measures imposed by Governments, in the main caused by the greed of Wall Street and others.

It’s a given that Politicians are not enlightened beings, most have the emotional maturity of 11 year old bullies in a school play ground that rarely if ever mature, especially on things that threaten their beliefs, their fears, their desires or their income.

Economy

The Consumer society is in the death throws, as is Capitalism as we know it … the death knell of greed for its own sake. But what’s next, what will replace it, hopefully I would like there to be a form of co-operative ownership where the workers have an input into the decision making process, together with a relevant education system … that prepares with the necessary skills needed to live in an collaborative society that will hopefully be created. I am thinking about this now and will write and post on it on one of my other blogs.

I personally bank with a mutual bank, this type of bank doesn’t have shareholders, they have customers, and this means they are able to use profits to support organisations, events and programs that the customers care about, in the home districts.

Things we can’t control …

The idea of war, where intelligent people purposefully go out and kill their own kind is a horror filled and unconscionable act. We are the only creature in nature that with intent kills their own kind in the millions, however what is worse are those at home who encourage and incite others via Politics and the media to kill ….. these are the people that perhaps should end up in The Hague for crimes against humanity …

How is it freedom or defensive for a Coalition of nations, or an individual country to attack another, to invade another … it is not about freedom, it is about projecting power, about control and self-interest initially, once the wars wears on there is rarely the political will to continue when troops are overseas. The injustices that occur and the deaths of innocents show the lack of humanity. We are all accountable for these instances, for we disrupt, separate and kill innocents, whose relatives, naturally want someone to pay, then we wonder why terrorism is an issue. Noam Chomsky has a very relevant quote here

“The wanton killing of innocents is terrorism, not a war against terrorism.

In this case it could be argued that if we don’t want terrorists acts in our country, we shouldn’t initiate and participate in terrorist acts in someone else’s country.

Society

We have been made dependent and subject to the products, whims and dictates of Corporations, we are not powerless as a society, but because we are not united nothing happens … perhaps it is necessary to see outside of ourselves to realise the issue.

Unlike our ancestors, few in the west today have chosen a future in growing food, fewer still outside the farming industry know how to grow food, how could we look after ourselves and their families, to create a home, without the help of the ever intrusive and growing Big brother and the products supplied by Corporations and banks. What will happen if at a moment in time Corporations no longer supply our food etc? How many of us will survive?

External to where I live, I understand North Korea is a threat, a clear and present threat as their leadership, a cult of personality and autocracy at least, but if there is common sense (maybe) it will not happen – if not are we up for another example of the devastation and mass death that nuclear weapons can bring …. I tend to follow the credo, that I do not do to others, that which I don’t want done to me but mainly we can create peace only by living peacefully.

Democracy is an ideology, a construct, which we cannot export at the point of a gun, but continue to try to, or at least say we do. But many wars on the surface at least seem more about a certain country’s dogma or Corporate self-interest, rather than anything else. War is continuous somewhere, after all it is a Corporate profit centre. One of the most dangerous combinations of beliefs for control and subjugation of dissent is when religion and politics are combined … in my view the greater distance between these two the more personal freedom we have.

Change in any structure …. Personal, community, Corporations and countries doesn’t work when it is imposed on us … true lasting positive change and indeed the destruction of a country also comes from within over time.

On a personal level changing one person’s direction in life is so difficult because the first point that is needed is …. we have to want to change … the status quo is not bringing meaning to our lives, we try new things and sometimes we are fortunate that these resonate and we follow where that path leads, a journey that never ends.

For me, if I change myself to what I believe to be a continuing evolving soul then I can if others wish it help by illuminating the process … although I would never approach someone with that thought in mind …. Doing that requires a few things … it is why I don’t call myself a teacher because to regurgitate dogma or personal beliefs is counter intuitive because every person’s path is unique, it is wrong to project my beliefs onto the world – they work for me … but I am however happy to talk, happy to offer a perspective, to help others look within, but I cannot tell them what to see for one size doesn’t fit all ….

There are many paths to enlightenment, in my experience spiritual evolution and dramatic personal growth doesn’t often happen in a highly structured environment, it doesn’t happen when you want to achieve it (for a desire or ego) …. For the spirit, the insights and revelations of soul evolution are quite different from the cognitive mind and the primal mind where many are infected by the ego and desires.

Letting go of attachments … I am not talking about family here, I am talking about your expectations about how things are, and what will happen, holding onto things just brings frustration and suffering. Strangely letting go, detaching oneself from outcomes, from people. this doesn’t mean that we don’t participate in life, it means that we can and do participate more fully, for there is nothing holding us back from giving our full self.

In a macro sense there is little we can do to change difficult situations on a State, National or international level. Yet we project our beliefs onto others, … again as one person, we can only change ourselves and project our own self and the love we feel outwards to others …

If one holds onto an idea, follow an self proclaimed ideology or have the feeling that things should be a certain way …. It means we cannot see the way things actually are … this can bring frustration … suffering and eventually anger … and in the case of some organisations, cults and governments – violence.

I am not immune to outside influences, I experience many things, however the only way I can deal with what the ego and its projections and beliefs others bring, is to be present in the moment … allow time to reflect on the event … and understand it before (if) I respond (response not reaction).

When I speak of letting go of the past … I am not talking about your history with you family and friends or personal events because that is a giving love it is creative … for most of the past is an illusion for we remember it from our own perspective – and that’s OK, but to me now, the past is only for learning from, letting go of mistakes or depression, shame or guilt – this brings self-growth, self-respect, strength and ultimately authenticity. Forgive yourself for anything in the past, and forgive others that may have hurt you, for then the past no longer has a hold on you.

Aside from memories of beautiful moments in your past, to me learning from the past is its only purpose – remember you are no longer the you that you were then … it is all right to have made mistakes (for then we learn), you don’t have to be perfect … for no one is. I say this so we do not limit ourselves by our past as you create the future in the present … the present is the only time we have, it is only time we can act, it is the only moment we can act, because it is the only time that is real.

Do not allow the past to limit you …. Follow your bliss step by step, dont give up, remembering that our life can change in a heart beat.

The future and your expectations, your wishes and dreams are yet to come …. there is nothing wrong with having these to inspire and guide you as you slowly work towards them … what causes suffering is when you create an illusion by building your life around a certain things or event and that event doesn’t happen … this attachment to an outcome brings, as I said before frustration and suffering.

Fear created by the mind is too often an issue – because it is concern or uncertainty about a future event, it is a non-present thought … a fear generated by your desires, your attachments, something that affects you or those you love … this fear is an illusion as well in fact fear is the most powerful way of changing behaviour – as Gandhi said ….

The enemy is fear, we think it is hate, but it is fear

Over thinking is an issue for many, we keep focusing on a thought, we are digging a hole increasing our anxiety normally over something we can do nothing about, we must let it go and tell ourselves to stop, for remember where our focus goes, our energy flows also. The Vast majority of fears that come to us are illusions, they never come to pass.

In fear I am not talking about an imminent physical event, like physical danger. That is real … I am talking of the fears we generate in our minds which are illusory.

I understand and accept that there is inequality, injustice, abuse in all its forms and murder of so many people in the world, this too is a construct by those that want it this way, that do not understand that we are all divinity, for what we do to others, we do to ourselves – I lament this and the short sighted, self-seeking people who project their desires and ego beliefs or ideology to shape events and circumstances primarily for their own benefit.

But I can do nothing about them … again I can only control myself … the alternative is that violence creates violence … and once that begins humanity loses control …. The fog of war takes over and atrocities happen. The only way for social change is slowly, peacefully from within … peace comes from living peacefully, as Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world, and you will attract others, to create peace.

The nature of most of humankind is that we are selfish animals who believe we are separate from each other …. At the same time many of the less educated, lack an awareness of others and hence care only for their path and those they perceive are like them (when no one actually is), they care not for the plight of others …. I do not blame them, as a significant majority are being used by Governments … to me words mean very little, even enlightened words …. Actions are the only thing that is real and lasting, they define us …. From my perspective for instance some Politicians promise and rarely deliver, however that is the nature of human flaws and the human ego.

In many areas of the world, Australia included there are organisations set up to help the poor (often overseas), such strategies are laudable and achieve good things, when done for the right reasons – sometimes it is done for self-interest, to push a certain dogma – to change beliefs. However in many charities, the cost of running the charity is high and hence it means little money reaches those in need when this happens we must ask ourselves, who benefits? What is the purpose of the organisation.

For Charitable works overseas is one thing, but little is done about the poor in my own country … our citizens, 13% of Australians are described as poor and some are destitute, homeless – many of them children, our most important asset for our future, I ponder sometimes and wonder what are we teaching them?

My experience is that people who have nothing generally have few if any expectations in this all-encompassing consumer society … I have seen it … all they want is food and someplace to sleep, from my experience these souls are usually the most sharing and caring of people and will share their meagre food with others … they have nothing in the way of things or money, all they can do is give of themselves.

To me the most pressing issue in the world is that lack of education – and other forms of education is travel (and reading), for instance racism could be largely conquered if people would travel out of their own country and see others are like them … fascism would be reduced if we read and thought … I know a big ask when our focus is being controlled by others, in the vast gambit of entertainment and social media.

Any ideology will eventually lead to abuse, suffering and atrocity …. Religions and state ideologies, Tyrants, Totalitarian States, ethnic cleansing and Religions, Capitalism, Communism, tyrants, dictators and other hierarchies) are human constructs and they have killed possibly over a hundred million of us since World War 2 …. I will not follow someone unthinkingly into the abyss that is created by some dogma … the present or the future, the only true path is “Love” – I will do what I can for others, normally person to person to help.

Human kind when they look to the light, they generally move towards the guidance they receive, however if we turn our back on the light, in the shadow and darkness that this brings is where the worst of ourselves reside …. Our ego desires may attach itself to an Ideology, a fear … we might strive for their fulfilment whatever the cost, disregarding all else, including our family … until I woke up from this, I was lost in duality of business, the job I held. In business life we chase expectations.

To me there is an inverse relationship with faith and fear … the more faith we have the less fearful we are … those who have faith in Governments or Corporations have made a poor choice, for most value no one but themselves, one also needs to be careful here lest we create and illusion or delusion, such as some true believers, that project their beliefs onto and affect the life of others, such are cults, religions and many political or ideological organisations (Apple or Google +++ for instance) – the problem comes when a person identity is their job, their beliefs — hence changing their beliefs become a major process because it means changing their identity

Although some cults may become religions which thrive on dogma and seek growth, power, separation and control for themselves …. To ensure that the participants know they are right and all others wrong … it becomes a tribal, a them and us mentality …. Where religions come into conflict over their perspective on God saying they are right, they know .. silly really for no one truly does. I am thinking back here to the Fable of the Wise men and the elephant … see my post here.

One last thing … a philosopher, Lao Tzu once said “Stop thinking and end your problems” – the mind can be our greatest asset, but until we can control and eventually subjugate the ego, more often it seems it is our greatest enemy, not only for ourselves but for our impact on others.

This is highly unusual to me, to explain my beliefs, they are as they are, well for today, they will change and within a year will have changed some by little steps, new insights etc.

If you have read this far, it is up to me to apologise … sorry for the lecture … perhaps you have similar thoughts are your thoughts may be quite divergent.

Any perspective within a frame of reference that we create is bound to be biased, incomplete or distorted … however this is merely my perspective … take what resonates with you and disregard the rest.

Truthfully I do not know where I am in the process, but there have been many slow changes in me physically and spiritually, effectively in how I see and respond to the world in the more than the 9 months since it began.

The mind is powerful, but from a spiritual evolution point of view, it is only so long as the ego is subjugated …. Mindfulness brings the reality of perspective … I live on the basis of Accept what comes while staying present and flow .. though sometimes (rarely) I have to remind myself to be mindful.

Being on my own for so long – this has not been a choice, but to date a reality – though I have learnt so much in solitude – I don’t project my beliefs onto others concerning a spiritual path because frankly it is not my place, their own evolution must come from within themselves, their own growth, their own realisations … this includes change, if they are truly seeking, all growth will come from within.

When I first arrived here from India, aside from being very ill, I was in my own little bubble and had to consciously stretch myself to move out of this bubble to engage with people …. We must engage outside of our personal bubbles …. I want and continue to be kind to people as I can be …. why not …. such behaviour brings smiles … I like smiles – kindness brings its own rewards.

The thing about not working from 9-5 in a job for most days is one has to make up our own mind what work we will do, where will we focus our energy, how shall we keep ourselves busy …. I chose to travel and to learn. I shall finish this book and will publish another perhaps about life and travelling … it is said that the first book is almost always auto-biographical as was the case for me. Part of me wants to finish the book, and I will, but at this point I am not sure about publishing it …. I have had this thought that stays with me “A spiritual teacher’s role is not to teach dogma or project their beliefs, but to awaken us to our divinity, to show us how to look, not what to see’ – I do not believe in just teaching dogma (mine or anyone else’s) … as it is merely a reprise of my or someone else’s experiences or thoughts … teaching others this way means that they might learn – however others must realise for themselves – (But how can they truly understand the depth of someone else’s dogma) as they have not had the realisations that for instance I have had to get to this point – in my view, for them just to rely on dogma, is a weakness, dependant, not strong for they are dependent on another …. I believe we must show others “how” to look, but in a way by reminding them of their divinity, they will discover their own base, their own path to divinity.

Of course when one is striving to grow, books are a valuable resource that can really help, they can trigger us, especially when reflecting afterwards in nature.

I have been able to stay mindful … and this has a wonderful effect of negating the effects of the ego …. The idea of judgement of others for instance, I came to the realisation that when we judge others we are in fact revealing an aspect of ourselves that needs healing …. In duality it is almost inescapable to observe, but in my opinion to judge, to reach a outcome can be avoided, we do not need to go to this step … I have written about this previously here …. Also those thoughts that concern the future (fears) … it brings peace and detachment from my own future, although it doesn’t detach me from engaging with my environment.

The Kundalini Awakening process is firmly doing its work … each event, normally each morning leaves a feeling, as it slowly moves up my body, now at the neck, so if I am right … we have next the throat chakra, the third eye and the crown, or ? But of course, I believe the Kundalini is an intelligence, and a being, an agent of the absolute that is divinity, it knows how to proceed. I have thought that the Kundalini Awakening is the same or similar to Self-realisation …. The other day I brought the light forward, the light that I can always bring from within me … this now pervades all of me … I do not have to reach for the divine …. It is everywhere, all of me …. To bring the Universe, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and others all I do is bring them to my consciousness and they are there … their aura, their divinity, they are is within me (and you) and feeling this divinity is without effort.

Perhaps you have a partner – that you and your partner are spiritually on a different path is not a negative or reason for unhappiness, there can be real respect and love for each other, it is rare, please truly value it, this may not affect your relationships in the physical world, for the actual evolution of the consciousness comes basically in solitude and allowing the realisations that come when they will, let them come, they will come in tiny little steps, each one incrementally building on the one previously …. You may not even be aware until one day you start thinking of things in a different way as for the evolution of the consciousness is a path, a journey of changing our perspective … part of the lessons in my case it was to understand the true nature of love, for most it is not love they feel, for real love is unconditional, a way to understand this is a “mothers love” … children are loved for who they are, and no matter what they do, they are still loved without limits – because most mothers cannot see their children without seeing themselves, their experience, their own process, for them, there is generally no possible separation between them.

The fundamental flaw in humanity is the infection called ego, the belief hammered into children that we are all separate, this empowers the ego and along comes the instruments of separation, such as comparison, competition, conflict and eventually war. Today war is a business carried out by the Department of War in many countries, including the United States, but from a world perspective it is facilitated by the UN permanent members of the security council, United Kingdom, Russia, United States of America, France and China … these countries along with Germany are focused on the supply and sale of weapons – we know that weapons kill …. This fact is something that they take no responsibility for …. That to me is what is so difficult to understand these so called world leadership. One set of numbers tells us that over 100 million people have been killed in various ethnic cleansing, genocides and democides since World War 2 – Yemen, Syria and Palestinians are just current examples.

There are some societies that do not develop the ego as we do in the west, for their focus is not on the self alone, or self aggrandisement and money, but on community and each other …. Goodness, what a wonder, truly may they inherit the world.

(1) compare myself to others, for we are all unique and on separate paths to different destinies.

(2) Try to quantify my spiritual progress.. you know to say I am this, for example, mindful, conscious etc. Such statements are generated by the ego, to use as an identity crutch. Your meaning comes in how your perspective changes over time, how you relate to yourself and others and in what you feel, see and understand.

As well, it is important to understand that such thoughts are meaningless … to compare or compete with another is ego driven! In doing so, you are trying to separate yourself, make some distinction between you and others when there is none, there is only your path and your destiny. The bottom line is that you are you, a wonderful unique individual with unlimited potential to follow your bliss. Any limitations we have, come from ourselves, in how we view ourselves, based on our beliefs and experiences.

Perhaps the image is simplistic … however it shows the marked difference between ego and the soul, between separation and true love.

Let me illustrate the Ego aberration anecdotally – after a class, I was waiting for a train, two students were talking about which one was more advanced spiritually … they tried to include me in their conversation, eventually I had to suggest the following observation to both of them, that this need to compare with another, shows that as yet, neither of them were on a genuine spiritual path … For if you were, you would know the ridiculousness of comparison, we cannot compare … as the spiritual path is essentially solitary, personal and spiritual, where the ego has no place, because it wants an identity separate from others.

In any case, what is the point of comparison? There is none, except to somehow make you feel better, separate from or feel superior in some way to another.

Just get on with your life; for it is quite easy to understand if you are present, even mindful, because it will be revealed in how you approach each day and how you respond to the challenges within these days.

As we are all different, it does not matter where you are on your path, the object is to be open, to be, and stay curious, to face and go beyond our limitations, to keep growing through learning from new experiences – the ego has no part, in this process.

My posts are simply my perspective and are offered in the spirit of discovery, exploration and evolution – take what resonates with you and leave the rest.

There is much wisdom in the world, and humanity has gone through instances in the past of great spiritual growth, in the times gone by of the great prophets, the enlightened awakened and the sages and philosophers of humanity, both male and female.

The times in the past of profound spiritual growth, through the wisdom and teachings of Lao Tzu, Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, Jesus Christ and more recently Gandhi, just to name a few, there are many other great and wonderful souls both male and female in our past, that can light our path, if we let them.

For my personal experience the below is a telling quote, which was the beginning of my being present and then creation of mindfulness for me – the quotation is from Lao Tzu, a philosopher and poet, who lived in China around 2,500 years ago, the founder of Taoism and the (probable) author of the Tao Te Ching, a truly wonderful book, which I keep near me. I find new meaning in, almost every time I pick it up.

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious, the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present” – Lao Tzu

This is a very revealing quotation for it gives you the baseline so to speak, the beginning point for living in the present … if we monitor our thoughts we can tell for instance is we are living in the past, we are depressed, of perhaps thinking of a time of a lost love, lost fortune, missed opportunity, regret, guilt or shame … if on the other hand we are anxious … we are concerned about something that has yet to happen … and expectation or a fear that is yet to be fulfilled, such as a specific event or perhaps a general feeling of unease or doubt about one’s future prospect … being present on the other hand, is when we are creating something, writing, composing, playing intense sport, or perhaps even making love, being entertained, or something that requires all our attention to be totally in the present moment .. a place where there is no thought of the past or the future only the moment you are in.

There are many other aspects of thought, such as ego that can only thrive when we are not present, it is fed by the way we look at the world and of course our beliefs and fears, … almost every one of these are groundless, but the ego needs them to give you an identity, to separate you from another, so you can pointlessly compare yourself to another … silly really, for comparison like competition is meaningless, more on the ego, another time.

One is in fact always in the present moment, don’t fight me on this, just wait and see how this unfolds, for we view the past as a memory (a memory from our own perspective, our own point of view) from the present moment … we look to the future as an expectation, again only from the present moment … realising this, is the beginning of the path to being present.

If you are constantly referring to the past, the best way (for me) was to accept it, and so come to terms with it, perhaps even to give yourself an apology, one you may never have received from those in your past, to forgive another, to learn, always to learn from the past, in fact from all experiences.

Now we do not forgive past transgressions for the sake of another, we are forgiving the past so we can be free of it, so it won’t control our actions in the present, to move on and more easily reside in the present moment … always the present moment… to at some time in the future, we bring that present moment out of the practise of meditation and live our life that way, almost always in the present moment is the aim of mindful – meditation at this point, for we must remember, that we do not meditate to find peace, we meditate to be at peace with what we find.

The only point we have here to remember that whilst being present, even mindful, once grasped is relatively easy, but remembering to be mindful, not always is … but as soon as we feel ourselves drifting away from the present moment, don’t engage, return to the present, for there is peace and reality, the “what is” of your life.

Many years ago, I went out to exercise, and meditated in the park as I often did, a new experience visited …. it was as if a pebble had been dropped in a pond, the ripples went outwards and outwards from my consciousness touching all life …. bringing it within me. Each life was different in the hues of colour, for life is abundant.

From that moment on, we are connected to every life form, from the tiniest to the largest mammals and the multitude of life in the cosmos.

We can at almost any time bring that experience to focus, for that light is within.

I believe a child is born enlightened, as when they are young, there are no barriers between ourselves and the outside world, they are part of everything they see and experience! I once saw a toddler experience rain for the first time …. there was so much joy to see in her.

I would suggest that the ego is not formed at this age, so children have no idea that they are separate from anyone or anything. I don’t know whether the ego is born with us, or due to our upbringing we are infected by it. For the source of all atrocities in humanity is an ideology, a dogma or a belief that is pursued by the ego and facilitated by the mind.

We are all born abundant, only our thoughts change this ….

When children reach about 6-8 years old they can be reasoned with, this for me is when meditation might be offered, for when meditation is learnt, at some point it may evolve to mindfulness and in that state the worries and self criticism that we normally experience are given their real perspective of their impact on our lives, for when mindful we stay present and flow. We then see that most of our fears and non-present thoughts are illusions.

If it their destiny, then again over time, mindless-mindfulness will come. But what do I mean and understand by this? It is a state of consciousness, where one does not cling to anything, but is clear in all cases, without hindrance or obstruction, without being stained, yet without dwelling in statelessness.

The Evolution of the Consciousness … this is the best way (for me) to illustrate what happens as a we evolve.

Imagine you are in a Movie theatre …. When we are young (it is not everyones destiny to evolve in this life). We sit in the front row, surrounded by and (for me) assaulted by the very loudness of the speakers. The light from the screen draws us inwards, it becomes a part of us, we lose ourselves in it. We focuses absolutely on experiencing the entertainment (or distraction) …. Perhaps another example of this particular experience would be, when we focus only on achievement, or in the case of Entertainment, smartphones, some extreme sports, Play-stations and other game boxes, do by their very nature force us to stay present – in doing so they bring us a dopamine burst – our self-gratification..

During the movie, we do not think about ourselves at all, unless we do not enjoy the movie, then our other thoughts may be of a not-present nature.

As we evolve, we move little by little towards the rear of the Theatre, and as the distance lengthens between where we are and the screen (life), it becomes progressively distant, we observe an ever widening perspective of the image, of life and our place within it, we see it not as a single event, but the big-picture, including the events that led to it …. We realise that in many ways we can be our own enemy for when we focus on a fear or an expectation and over think it, it often leads to suffering …. Remember what we focus, we give energy to and so this thought (good or bad) grows in our lives.

Meditation that we do in the morning, is practice, at some point in this practice, we are able to carry that state with us throughout the day and in our life.

If we are able (which is happening in some schools) to teach mindful meditation to children as young as 8, will over time, over the generations, I feel will change the nature of humanity, and will lead to a self respect and therefore respecting others, for me it is on the path to peace, love and understanding.

When in mindfulness we stay present in the moment, not reliving the past or investing in our expectations of the future – this does not mean we don’t responsibly plan for the future, it just means we stay present and don’t invest in and therefore do not live in the future by building and living in castles we build in the air, instead of creating our futures in the present moment.

Eventually, if it is on the path of the individual, we evolve further and come via little steps to a Mindless-Mindful state where unless we have a task to do that needs our mind, the mind of the person is at rest, and empty of thoughts. This place is a also an incredible place of calm. Hence when an event happens that requires our mind we can give it our absolute focus and attention.

We can only create our life, make decisions and plan in the present moment because that is the only moment we have … it’s the only place we can act when you think about it, as well we look at the past through the present moment and we look to the future through the present as well.

Anyone can reach enlightenment in life, (some may spontaneously change due to a sound or other stimulus) or by study or when they face and overcome the major challenges that come in their lives. There are multiple, perhaps uncountable paths to spiritual growth, but what is common to all paths, is the state we are in when we arrive.

In my case, I was asked by my soul, did I want to go through the portal (the image I had of the next step), I said “if I don’t what will happen”, my soul responded “You will go no further, we will stop here” …. For me I said lets go forward, I have not regretted that decision.

Words are generally poor conveyors of meaning, especially of such experiences and of absolutes …. As you are aware, words convey only part of the message, the rough plot (a bare bones storyboard) so to speak. I hope that this gives you some background of the journey that awaits us all (my belief) in this life or another …. all of us, will evolve to the light.

My articles are simply my perspective and they are offered in the spirit of discovery and empowerment – take what resonates with you and leave the rest.

With thanks to Inma VP for the inspiration and the image above (Image creator is unknown) …. Please read to end of poem …

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.A HINDU FABLE.

A poem by John Godfrey Saxe (1872) illustrates th story, and the issue.

i.

IT was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined,Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind),That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

ii.

The First approached the Elephant,And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side,At once began to bawl:“God bless me!—but the Elephant Is very like a wall!”

iii.

The Second, feeling of the tusk,Cried: “Ho!—what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp?To me ‘t is mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!”

iv.

The Third approached the animal,And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands,Thus boldly up and spake:“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a snake!”

v.

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,And felt about the knee.“What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he;” ‘T is clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!”

vi.

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,Said: “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most;Deny the fact who can,This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!”

vii.

The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope,“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!”

viii.

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the right,And all were in the wrong!

Moral

So, oft in theologic wars The disputants, I ween,Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!

But surely the picture of the blind men and the elephant also points to something bigger — The elephant itself? – however I feel that the point is that not one person or religion or indeed a perspective sees the whole picture.

Blind Men and the Elephant – Image Creator is Unknown

Indeed, each of the blind man has a limited perspective on the objective truth, but that doesn’t mean a truth isn’t there, for truth isn’t relative at all – the elephant is there to discover in its totality.

In the areas of the Spiritual or Religious and theology, we have only our personal perspective, in other disciplines we may have hints, even so this doesn’t mean any and all versions of Truth are equally valid. Actually, if we know (or believe) that the Whole Elephant is there, perhaps we should seek every opportunity to experience more of the elephant, a metaphor for example for the source, the Divine?

In mankind’s attempt to understand his environment, we codify what we see in a way which we can understand within the knowledge and perspectives we have available at the time. As we evolve I would suggest that our perspective will (it does)…. we may see more of the elephant, perhaps one day we may see all of the elephant.

Here, I would give the floor to a beautiful mind with regard to an aspect of this …

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth” – Marcus Aurelius

Further From Wikipedia …

Modern treatments

The story is seen as a metaphor in many disciplines, being pressed into service as an analogy in fields well beyond the traditional. In physics, it has been seen as an analogy for the wave–particle duality.[19] In biology, the way the blind men hold onto different parts of the elephant has been seen as a good analogy for the Polyclonal B cell response.

The fable is one of a number of tales that cast light on the response of hearers or readers to the story itself. Idries Shah has commented on this element of self-reference in the many interpretations of the story, and its function as a teaching story:

…people address themselves to this story in one or more interpretations. They then accept or reject them. Now they can feel happy; they have arrived at an opinion about the matter. According to their conditioning they produce the answer. Now look at their answers. Some will say that this is a fascinating and touching allegory of the presence of God. Others will say that it is showing people how stupid mankind can be. Some say it is anti-scholastic. Others that it is just a tale copied by Rumi from Sanai – and so on. Shah adapted the tale in his book The Dermis Probe. This version begins with a conference of scientists, from different fields of expertise, presenting their conflicting conclusions on the material upon which a camera is focused. As the camera slowly zooms out it gradually becomes clear that the material under examination is the hide of an African elephant. The words ‘The Parts Are Greater Than The Whole’ then appear on the screen. This retelling formed the script for a short four-minute film by the animator Richard Williams. The film was chosen as an Outstanding Film of the Year and was exhibited at the London and New York film festivals.

The story enjoys a continuing appeal, as shown by the number of illustrated children’s books of the fable; there is one for instance by Paul Galdone and another, Seven Blind Mice, by Ed Young (1992).

“We have to remember that what we observe is not nature in itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning.” — Werner Heisenberg

In my view and perhaps the view of others, for just and compassionate communications, we will all evolve, each in their own time to separate the Observation from the evaluation. I say this for when we combine observation with evaluation (our ego), others may hear criticism and may take offence (their ego) to what we are saying, or they will hear our projected observation that may be quite uninformed and therefore unjust. For each time we engage with the world, we interpret it through our ego, beliefs, fears, experience and learned dogma.

The human mind generally looks at every experience or thing as something to be labelled, it discriminates and comes to a conclusion perhaps in the range from good to bad … in this way by labelling an experience, good or bad, right or wrong, even profit or loss or pain or pleasure – we can then move on because we have am outcome, we have a judgement on the experience or the event, hence in doing this we actually create duality in the world as we go along. However despite all I say below, there are times when we do need to evaluate circumstances and experiences to navigate safely the physical duality world, the world of form and feelings.

From our individual beliefs and experiences we may each of us have a different understanding of words, people or events, as different beliefs on what things mean, come from our varied life experiences, beliefs and dogma – hence it is not unusual that many of us amy have a different perspective on any given experience.

To observe without evaluating is a higher state of consciousness, the highest form of intelligence.

There are those who unconsciously react without thought or reflection, who are driven by their desires, their egos, some dogma, their past, as well as those with the illusion of knowledge and who in their beliefs are seemingly devoid of compassion, empathy or kindness.

However this idea of rugged individualism will ultimately fail, it is failing now, for in my view humanity thrives best in concert with others in a collaborative, co-operative dynamic, rather than the current state of blame, judgement, regurgitated dogma which results in conflict and confrontation.

For me, I am happy to understand that we are NOT just our minds – however the mind is not the best tool on it’s own to understand our motivations, our feelings, which may initiate actions. The stimulus … “why” we do things, but as I have mentioned previously on this site, understanding this is possible for those that wish it to.

My view that each time we judge others and then project our own beliefs (which originated from our experiences, dogma, our beliefs and thus expectations) as ego onto others we reveal an unhealed part of ourselves, a part of us that is not strong, authentic and whole.

Whilst it may be impossible not to form an impression of some kind for someone we just met, or form an opinion of the behaviours of others we already know – what we can do, is change what happens next, for to judge another is to assume a position to which we have no right …. we cannot know another for we have not lived their life, walked in their shoes, so to speak, the best we can do is to assume they are like us – which is an illusion, as in fact many of us hardly know ourselves, so to judge another, to feel superior over another is in my perspective a failing, a destructive aspect of society and humanity.

Tolerance … Wonderful diversity … for we are all the same, we all seek engagement with our community, our friends and those we love. Everyone, every life has an equal value in the Universe.

For me, Judgement and projection of our beliefs onto others is not an enlightened activity, it is, like competition and comparison essentially meaningless.

Once we have the awareness of this aspect of us and we desire to change this propensity to judge and project, it can and is ameliorated and alleviated over time, normally by the internal witnessing of your thoughts and actions. It is something we have to do for ourselves, for we cannot save or change others, for change is something we each have to do for ourselves.

We must remember that we are the witness to the story, not the player in the story.

As Buddha said …. “Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.”

My posts are simply my perspective and are offered in the spirit of discovery, exploration and empowerment – take what resonates with you and leave the rest.